Just Vanilla - A Vanilla One Shot

            “God,” I thought to myself, “this was a bad idea. This was a very bad idea.” Staring anxiously at my closet, I once again was faced with the daunting task of picking out an outfit. This time, however, all eyes would be on me and Nora wouldn’t be coming in for another few hours. Groaning, I was about to sprawl out on my bed in defeat and possibly call Erin. That’s when I spotted a little parcel laid on the edge of the bed, wrapped with brown paper, a little note scribbled in the corner in Gram’s small cursive.

            “I’m so proud of you,” it read. “I picked this up for you last week, I hope you like it. I’m already at the gallery, just doing some last minute checks. Don’t worry yourself too much, Flo. Everything will be fine. –Gram”

            I gingerly tore off the wrapping. Inside, folded up neatly, was a gorgeous blue dress, splattered with small, white polka dots. The dress fell beautifully on me, a feat that I had only achieved once before. Incidentally, for the last gallery opening I had been to. I was just about to crumple the paper when something else fell out. Under my bed was a mess of papers and various drawings I had done, it was a miracle my hand came out unscathed. But when it finally emerged, after what seemed like minutes of rummaging around, a little turquoise ring, the tag still on, sat in my palm. I slipped the little ring onto my finger and let my hair down from its bun. Giving it a quick comb through, it fell in loose waves down my back. Perfect. Now I was, hopefully, ready to go. Grabbing a white cardigan, I stepped outside into the Walden sea breeze.

            I felt a presence fall into step with me and turned to see Daniel holding out a bouquet of roses.

            “Oh, Daniel! I love them,” I murmured, inhaling the scent.

            “Congratulations, Flo,” he leaned in to kiss me and my heart sped up, as it always did at his slightest touch.

            “You all set ready to go, Flo?” Erin appeared into view, her hair streaked with a shade of red so bright I questioned whether she hadn’t been wearing sunglasses as she dyed it. Soon enough, Jay joined us too, making jokes, trying to ease my nerves. And then Collette and Scott, holding hands. Collette let go of Scott and launched herself towards me, wrapping her dainty arms around my waist. After the initial shock, I returned the hug.

            “We’re all so proud of you, Flo. You’re the talk of the town. I’m sure the exhibition is going to go great!” she exhaled when she finally let go.

            “Thanks, Collette,” I replied, smiling genuinely. If possible, over the last year at school, the 6 of us had only gotten closer, especially Collette and I.

Fine we came to the gallery. The same Picture Perfect sign hung above the door, the same air-conditioning was blasting inside but for the first time in the past two weeks, the gallery felt… different. Instead of just a gallery, it was now my gallery too.

            “You guys go in, I’ll just be a minute,” I said softly.

            They all made their way inside the crammed gallery, each giving words of encouragement before making their way through the throng. Walden hadn’t disappointed. Once again, it seemed the entire town had come out to the opening, to my opening.

            It still seemed surreal, that I had my own exhibition, filled entirely with my work. For the last year of high school, I had taken art. At first, I had been wary, still scared to show others my work but with Daniel’s support, I signed up. As expected, it instantly became my favorite class. And on the last day of school, I had a mini exhibition of sorts, showing the various pieces I had completed that year only to Daniel and Gram. They both looked like they wanted to say something, and I knew what, but they kept their mouths shut, praising my work and glancing at each other. Right then and there, I made up my mind. So, when Daniel left, I told Gram that I wanted to do a show.

            “Flo, they’re getting ready to start,” Daniel interrupted my thoughts, softly playing with my hair. He took my hand and pushed open the door, the air conditioning hitting our faces with a sudden blast. And on the walls were all the pieces I had spent the summer perfecting. Today, the last day of summer, was the day everyone got to see them.

            I had taken a page out of Gram’s book and in the center of the gallery was a larger work, covered with a sheet. Suddenly, a wail emanated from the entrance and I turned to see Nora, bouncing Summer in her arms.

            “We just got in, she’s a tad tired. Be a dear and hold her for me,” Nora muttered, not waiting for an answer before depositing the crying Summer into my arms. I shushed her and motioned to Nora and Lenny that I’d return with their child in a moment. I made a bee-line for one specific area and turned Summer so she could see two of the paintings properly.

            “That’s you,” I cooed. “I drew it when you visited at the beginning of summer, remember? And that’s from your birthday.”

            “It’s beautiful, Flo. They’re all beautiful,” Nora said, sticking a pacifier into Summer’s mouth as Daniel came over and took her into his arms.

            “Can you say Daniel? Daniel?” he asked, looking down at her and attempting to coerce anything other than unintelligible wails.

            “I think we should start with something easier, with one-syllable, like Flo,” I chuckled.

           “I came over here to tell you that it’s time for you to say something, actually,” he answered, shooting me a comforting smile. And with that, the nerves all flooded back into me.

            “You’ll do fine,” he assured.

            I made my way to the front of the gallery and began speaking as someone handed me a microphone. I spoke about my inspiration for the exhibition – Walden, of course, but more importantly, my friends and family.  And then I turned to the last work, the one behind the sheet.

            “This one is actually the only piece I didn’t do this summer, but it’s one of the most important ones, nonetheless. I drew this last summer, while I was still trying to figure out my place in Walden and while I was still unsure if I belonged here or not. And the subject of this one helped me find my way,” I rambled, thinking about how I should’ve written a speech before hand.  But I realized that it was coming form my heart, and that was all that mattered.

            I pulled the sheet off and stared into the smiling eyes of a particular boy, scooping ice cream out of a tub in the blown up version of the sketch I had done on Walden’s rocky beach.

           That particular boy’s voice cut though the chatter of the crowd and asked, “What’s it called, this one?”

            Locking eyes with Daniel and smiling, I reminisced upon the moment we had first met and answered. 

              “Vanilla. Just Vanilla.”

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Ergh, oh god, I've never done one of these and it's for the incredible, amazing Leigh so I'm freaking out but I hope you like it nonetheless.

XOXO,

Nadira